Collapsible shelter apparatus

ABSTRACT

A collapsible, temporary shelter for use by an outdoorsman has a hollow body composed of two mirror image body members hinged to one another for swinging movements from a position in which one member overlies the other to form the hollow body, such body being coupled at a level above ground level to a movable vehicle. One of the body members is swingable to an adjusted position relative to the other about a substantially horizontal axis so as to extend downwardly to ground level. When the body members are in such adjusted position they provide a seat and a foot support for the user and also provide support for an upstanding framework on which a cover may be mounted to provide an enclosure to shelter a person.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/389,469 filed Mar. 14, 2003.

This invention relates to a collapsible shelter especially adapted for use in providing temporary shelter to an outdoorsman such as an ice fisherman, a hunter, or other person who can benefit from protection against the elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common for persons who engage in the sports of fishing and hunting to equip themselves with collapsible shelters to shield themselves from weather and from their intended targets, such as ducks, geese, deer, and other wild life. Such shelters are in wide use by ice fishermen who traditionally travel over ice covering a body of water to a selected site at which a temporary shelter is erected.

In most instances a shelter is composed of a plurality of components which, during transit, are disassembled and stowed in a sled which may be drawn along the ice by being attached to a snowmobile, an all terrain vehicle (ATV), or simply attached to a line which may be held by a fisherman and dragged behind him across the ice. Not all ice surfaces are smooth. On the contrary, ice surfaces more often than not are irregular. Consequently, towing a sled across such surfaces frequently causes the sled to overturn, become stuck, or damaged by being driven into upstanding obstacles. Any of these occurrences is objectionable and may result in loss or displacement of equipment or damage thereto.

When a disassembled shelter is towed to a selected ice fishing site the parts must be unpacked and assembled to erect the shelter. Many of the currently available shelters are composed of so many parts that a substantial period of time is required to arrange the parts and effect the assembly. In those instances in which the sled is not used in the final assembly except, perhaps, as a seat, care must be taken to ensure that the sled will not be blown away. Care also must be taken to ensure that the shelter itself is not blown away on those occasions when the wind velocity is high. The same observations apply with respect to the shelters used on land by hunters and the like.

When the need for the temporary shelter is over it is necessary to disassemble the components, repack them in a sled or other carrier, and leave the site. All of the difficulties experienced in arriving at the site once again are encountered.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a temporary, collapsible shelter which overcomes or minimizes greatly the problems referred to above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a hollow body composed of two substantially identical members which may be placed in overlying condition so as to form a hollow body. A support frame underlies the body to provide support for the body in a position above ground level. The support frame may be mounted on a vehicle so as to be anchored thereto or, if desired, the support frame or the body may be provided with pivotable, adjustable length support legs so as to enable the body to be supported in a free standing condition.

The two body members are triangular in end elevation and are hinged to one another along two confronting side edges so as to enable the upper body member to be swung through substantially 180° and project laterally and downwardly toward ground level from the other body member. The two body members have panels which completely enclose the body when the two body members are in overlying relation. Such panels also provide, when the body members are in their adjusted positions, a backrest and seat for a person, as well as a wind break and foot support.

The volume of each body member is sufficient to accommodate several disassembled frame components which, when assembled, extend above the body member and provide support for a cover formed of fabric or the like and which encloses the interior of the assembly, thereby providing protection for the user against the elements.

A doorway and a door are provided at one side of the cover to provide access to the interior of the cover. The door may be closed following entry of a person into the enclosure. In addition, window-like openings may be provided to enable an occupant to see beyond the shelter.

The frame members for supporting the cover, as well as the cover itself, may be accommodated in the body when the latter is in its closed condition, thereby providing easily accessible storage for such components. In those instances in which the body and its components are attached to a vehicle and at a level above ground level, no difficulty is encountered in traversing the surface of ground or ice to and from a selected site because neither the body nor its contents engages the surface.

Upon reaching a selected site the two halves of the body member may be adjusted relative to each other to provide a base on which a protective enclosure may be erected. In the adjusted position, one half of the body member forms a seat and backrest for a person and the other half provides a foot support which rests at ground level. The various panels forming the two body member halves also provide a wind break and shelter for an occupant.

In the adjusted positions of the two body member halves one of them may remain connected to the vehicle if desired. If it is preferred to uncouple the vehicle from the body member, however, ground engageable support legs may be moved to positions in which they, together with that body member half which is at ground level, provide a support for the apparatus.

Following relative movement of the body member halves to the adjusted positions, frame members normally stored in the body member may be joined to one another and erected to receive and support an enclosure formed of flexible, fabric-like panels which form a top and four contiguous sides which completely enclose the space within. One of the sides is provided with a flap which is movable between open and closed positions so as to enable access to the interior of the enclosure.

THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, isometric view of the rear of a conventional all terrain vehicle provided with a support frame on which a body member may be mounted;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating a closed body member mounted on the support frame;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the two halves of the body member in adjusted positions;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a cover-supporting framework in an erected position preparatory to being fitted with a cover; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating the cover in place.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A collapsible shelter constructed in accordance with the invention is adapted for use in conjunction with a wheeled, power vehicle 1 such as an ATV, a snowmobile, or other suitable vehicle. As shown, the vehicle 1 is an ATV having a main frame 2 on which are journalled ground engageable traction wheels 3, as is customary. The vehicle 1 conventionally is provided adjacent its rear with a luggage rack 4 composed of a plurality of tubular frame members 5 supported by and fixed to the vehicle frame 2. Although the vehicle 1 is illustrated as comprising an ATV, it will be understood that the vehicle could be snowmobile, a truck, or any other vehicle appropriate for use.

A supporting frame 6 is provided for the purpose of coupling apparatus yet to be described to the vehicle 1. As shown, the frame 6 comprises substantially horizontal frame members 7 and 8 joined to vertically extending coupling bars 9 provided at their upper ends with devises 10 which accommodate one of the bars 5 of the rack 4 and are maintained in assembled relation therewith by nut and bolt assemblies 11. Spanning the frame members 7 are one or more support plates 12 which provide a base for supporting the apparatus yet to be described. The plate 12 may be equipped with anchor members 13 and with openings 14 for the accommodation of anchor bolts (not shown).

The supporting frame 6 also includes a stabilizing bar 15 secured at its lower end to some part, such as a plate 12, of the frame 6 and having at its upper end a clevis 16 corresponding in all respects to the devises 10 and secured to one of the frame bars 5 of the rack 4. The stabilizing bar 15 extends obliquely rearwardly and downwardly from the rack 4 so as to preclude rocking movement of the frame 6 about its connections to the rack 4.

Should it become necessary or desirable to remove the frame 6 from the vehicle 1, the devises 10 and 16 may be uncoupled from the frame members of the rack 4.

Mounted on the frame 6 so as to be supported thereby from below is a hollow body 17 composed of two like body members 18 and 19. The body member 18 forms one half of the body 17 and has a first or main panel 20 joined at one edge to an upstanding back panel 21. Joining the panels 20 and 21 at opposite ends of the latter are triangular panels 22 and 23 which extend diagonally from the free edges of the panels 20 and 21. The panel 20 of the body member 18 is secured to the support frame 6 in a conventional manner with suitable couplings (not shown) so that the panel 20 is substantially horizontal and terminates in an edge 24 facing rearwardly of the vehicle 1.

The body member 19 is a mirror image of the member 18 and has a main panel 25 joined at one edge to a flat panel 26. The panel 25 overlies and parallels the panel 20 when the frame members are in the positions shown in FIG. 2. Triangular end panels 27 and 28 like the end panels 22 and 23 join the panels 25 and 26.

The panel 25 has a free edge 29 which is adjacent and rockably coupled to the edge 24 of the panel 20 by hinges 30. The body member 19 thus is capable of swinging movement from a position overlying the body member 18, as is shown in FIG. 2, to an adjusted position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the body member 19 extends obliquely rearwardly and downwardly to ground level.

As is illustrated in FIG. 3 the body member 18 provides space for the accommodation of a plurality of frame sections 31 which may be telescopingly and separably connected to one another. As also is shown in FIG. 3, the frame sections 31 are separated. The body member 18 also provides support for a pair of frame sections 32 which are pivoted as shown at 33 to the panel 21 so as to enable the frame sections to be swung to and supported in a vertically extending position.

The body member 19 accommodates a U-shaped frame 34 having side sections 35, 36 joined by a cross bar 37. The frame 34 is pivoted to brackets 38 mounted on the panel 26 so as to be swung from the stored position shown in FIG. 3 to an extended position rearwardly of the vehicle 1 and at ground level, as is shown in FIG. 4.

Following movement of the body member 19 to the position shown in FIG. 3, and the swinging of the frame sections 35-37 to the position shown in FIG. 4, the loose frame sections 31 may be assembled with one another in telescoping manner so as to provide an upstanding framework 39. At the junction of the vertical and horizontal frame sections 31 are suitable fittings 40 to enable the sections to be coupled to one another. Two of the sections 31 are fitted with spring couplings 41 so as to enable them to span the two end vertical sections of the framework and maintain them in upright condition as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but includes a protective covering 45 formed of a light weight, moisture resistant nylon or other fabric having a top section 46 and four vertical sections 47, 48 which depend from the upper part of the framework 39 to form a four sided protective enclosure which encircles the extended body members and the framework 39. One of the sections 48 has a flap 49 which normally closes a doorway or opening formed in a section 48 so as to permit easy access to the interior of the enclosure. Zippers 50 or the like may be used to maintain the flap 49 in its closed position.

To condition the apparatus for use the supporting frame 6 is coupled to the rack 4 of the vehicle 1 so that the frame 6 is in a substantially horizontal position well above ground level. The frame sections 31-37 are stowed in the body members 18 and 19, along with the protective covering 45 and any equipment which the user may desire to include. Such equipment may include an auger for boring a hole through ice, as well as fishing equipment if the user intends to do ice fishing. If the user intends to use the apparatus for hunting, the equipment stowed in the body 17 may include firearms, ammunition, and whatever other materials may be desired.

The vehicle 1 then may be driven to a selected site at which the chosen activity is to be performed. Since the body 17 is supported from below and well above ground level, unevenness in the surface over which the vehicle is driven will not affect the body.

When the selected site has been reached, the vehicle may be stopped and the body member 19 swung relative to the body member 18 about the hinges 30 so as to enable the body section 19 to extend rearwardly of the vehicle and downwardly to ground level. In this connection, the height above ground level at which the frame 6 is positioned should be such that, when the body member 19 is in its rearwardly and downwardly extending position, the panel member 26 will rest upon the ground or ice, as the case may be.

It is understood that the surface of ice is not, strictly speaking, ground. Accordingly, the term ground level, as used herein, is intended to mean the level of the surface over which the vehicle is driven.

When the body 17 has been opened by placing the members 18 and 19 in the adjusted positions, the frame elements 31-37 can be assembled to form the supporting framework 39 for the cover 45. The latter then may be assembled over the framework so as to provide an enclosure for the protection and comfort of the user.

When the body members 18 and 19 are in the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the panel member 20 forms a seat for the user, the panel member 21 forms a combined wind screen and backrest, the panel member 25 forms a wind screen for the legs of a user seated on the panel 20, and the panel 26 provides a foot support so as to enable the user's feet to avoid resting directly on ice. The end panels 22, 23, 27, and 28 cooperate with the other panels to enclose the area of the body members.

The frame section formed by the elements 35-37 provides an area in which a hole may be formed in ice, thereby enabling the user to be seated on the panel 20 with his feet supported on the panel 26 while fishing.

There are some occasions when a user of the equipment may wish to uncouple the shelter from the vehicle 1 and leave the erected shelter in place. The uncoupling of the shelter from the vehicle will remove the support for the body member 18. For these occasions the frame 6 (or the main panel 20, if desired) may include a pair of auxiliary support legs 50 (FIGS. 1 and 5) comprising an enlarged tubular part 51 and a reduced telescoping part 52 that is slideably accommodated in the part 51. The tubular part 51 is hinged at one end to a hinge block 53 which is secured to the frame member 7 of the frame 6 (or to the panel 20) in such manner as to limit movements of the leg 50 between the horizontal and vertical positions shown. The free end of the part 52 is provided with an enlarged area foot 54 which is adapted to rest upon ice or ground. Preferably, there are two of the auxiliary supports 50 spaced apart from one another at that end of the frame 6 which is adjacent the vehicle 1.

To make use of the auxiliary supports 50 the telescoping leg sections 51 and 52 are swung from the horizontal positions shown in FIG. 1 to the vertical position shown in FIG. 5 and adjusted so that the overall height of each leg section corresponds to the distance from the frame 6 to ground level. The sections 51 and 52 may be provided with alignable openings 55 for the accommodation of pins (not shown) so as to secure the leg sections in a selected position of vertical adjustment. Thereafter, the frame 6 may be uncoupled from the vehicle 1 and the latter driven away. The shelter apparatus then will be supported by engagement of the body member 19 with the ground and by the auxiliary supports 50.

When the user has finished with the apparatus it is a simple matter to remove the cover 45, separate the various frame elements and return them to the body member, and swing the body member 19 upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2 in which the body member 19 overlies the member 18. If the frame 6 has been uncoupled from the vehicle, the frame should be recoupled to the vehicle and the auxiliary supporting legs returned to their inactive, horizontal positions. Any suitable tether (not shown) may be used to tie the legs 50 to the frame 6 so as to ensure their being maintained in their horizontal, inactive positions.

A particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention is the rapidity with which the shelter may be erected and dismantled. Tests have shown that even an inexperienced person may erect or disassemble the shelter in less than five minutes.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims. 

1. Collapsible shelter apparatus for providing temporary shelter to an outdoorsman, said apparatus comprising a pair of body members hinged to one another for swinging movements about a substantially horizontal axis above ground level from a first position in which one of said body members overlies the other of said body members and together therewith forms a closed hollow body, to a second position in which said one of said body members extends downward from the level of said axis a distance corresponding substantially to that between said axis and ground level; and support means for maintaining said other of said body members in a substantially horizontal position above ground level, said body members when said one of said body members is in said second position providing seating for a person.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including a plurality of separable frame elements operable when assembled to form a framework for supporting a cover which encloses said body members when said one of said body members is in said second position.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 including means for pivotally connecting selected ones of said frame elements to said body members for swinging movements of said frame elements from collapsed condition to an erected condition to provide upstanding support for said cover.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said body members is triangular in end elevation.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said body members forms a right triangle in end elevation.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said body members comprises a pair of planar sides joined together along corresponding edges and having free opposite edges, each of said body members having a pair of end members joined to both of said planar sides, each of said end members being triangular.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 including hinge means hingedly connecting the free edges of said pair of planar sides.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a frame underlying said other of said body members.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 including coupling means for coupling said frame to a vehicle at a level above ground level.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said support means includes ground engageable legs carried by said frame and cooperable with said one of said body members when the latter is in said second position to support said frame in said horizontal position above ground level.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said legs are adjustable in length.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said other of said body members when in said second position extends obliquely from the level of said axis.
 13. Collapsible shelter apparatus for providing temporary shelter to an outdoorsman, said apparatus comprising a pair of substantially uniform, mirror image body members each of which has a main panel having a free side edge and opposite end edges, each of said body members having a side panel joined to and extending from the opposite side edge of the associated main panel, each of said body members having opposite end panels joined to the main panel and the side panel of the associated body member, each of said end panels of each of said body members having a free edge extending diagonally from the free edge of the side panel to the free edge of the main panel of the associated body member; hinge means joining the main panels of said body members at their free edges for enabling swinging movement of one of said body members relative to the other of said body members from a first position in which said one of said body members overlies the other of said body members to a second position, said body members when in said first position forming a closed, hollow body; mounting means for mounting said other of said body members in a position in which the main panel thereof occupies a substantially horizontal position above ground level, said one of said body members when in said second position extending laterally and downwardly to ground level from said free edge of said main panel of said other of said body members, the main panel of said other of said body members when said one of said body members occupies said first position forming a seat for a person and the main panel of said one of said body members when said one of said body members occupies said second position forming a foot support for such person, and separable frame members carried by said body members and forming a framework extending to a level above that of said other of said body members for supporting a cover having substantially vertical sides extending about said framework and enclosing said body members when said one of said body members is in said second position.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said mounting means comprises a frame on which said other of said body members is supported, and supporting means connected to said frame for supporting the latter in a substantially horizontal position.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said supporting means comprises frame members for connecting said frame to a vehicle.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said supporting means comprise ground engageable legs joined to said frame and extending therefrom to ground level.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said legs are pivotally joined to said frame for swinging movements between substantially horizontal and vertical positions.
 18. The combination of a vehicle having ground engageable traction means; and a shelter support, said shelter support comprising a frame, mounting means mounting said frame on said vehicle at a level above ground level, a first body member supported in a substantially horizontal position from below by said frame, and a second body member coupled to said first body member for swinging movements from a first position in which said second body member overlies said first body member and together with the latter forms a closed hollow body, to a second position in which said first body member remains in said substantially horizontal position and said second body member extends obliquely downward from said first body member to a level corresponding to ground level, said first and second body members having panels which provide sheltered support for a person when said second body member is in said second position.
 19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein said mounting means is separable from said vehicle and including auxiliary support means carried by said frame and extendable therefrom downwardly to ground level, thereby enabling said first body member to be supported by said frame and said auxiliary support means, and said second body member to be supported by said first body member in ground engagement at said ground level.
 20. The combination according to claim 19 including multiple, separable frame sections connected to said body members and to one another forming a framework for the support of a cover having multiple sections joined together and forming an enclosure for both of said body members.
 21. The combination according to claim 18 wherein one of the panels of said first body member provides a seat and one of the panels of said second body member provides a foot support when said second body member is in said second position.
 22. Collapsible shelter apparatus comprising a substantially triangular first body member; a substantially triangular second body member; hinge means coupling said first and second body members to one another for swinging movement of one of said body members about a substantially horizontal axis from a first position above ground level in which said one of said body members overlies the other of said body members and forms with the latter a hollow body, to a second position in which said one of said body members extends beyond and obliquely to one side of said other of said body members and occupies a level different from that occupied by said one of said body members when said one of said body members is in said first position; a cover for enclosing said body members when said one of said body members is in said second position; and mounting means for mounting said cover on at least one of said body members in such position that when said one of said body members occupies said second position said cover forms an enclosure for said body members.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein when said one of said body members is in said second position, one of said body members is at a higher level than that of said other of said body members.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein it is said second body member which is at the higher level.
 25. The apparatus according to claim 23 including support means for supporting the body member which occupies the higher level when said one of said body members is in said second position. 